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PRUNING. 



As to pruning apple trees, suppose you plant one-year old trees. After 

 they are properly planted, cut back to three feet in height, then allow the 

 tree to send up shoots above eighteen inches, and rub off all below. Let 

 the branches start all round the tree in the form of a pyramid. Second 

 year, cut back, say one half; third year, the same, and after that, less. 

 'Keep all suckers and superfluous wood thinned out, so as to admit sun- 

 shine. Pear trees require more pruning; cutback the same as apple, only 

 more vigorous pruning is necessary, cutting back, say two thirds year after 

 3 r ear, and endeavoring to make the branches stocky, so that they will not 

 break. The apricot requires still more pruning, as it is a wonderful grower, 

 and it must be cut back three fourths to five sixths, thus allowing the small 

 twigs to remain on the tree to bear fruit. The apricot requires vigorous 

 pruning each year. The peach does not require so much pruning; cut 

 back some the second year, and keep all new wood cut away that grows 

 out from the base; in fact, keep all brush out, and keep the tree in symmet- 

 rical shape. This same rule applies to nectarines as well. Walnut and 

 fig trees requiring little pruning. In this connection let me urge every one 

 to plant one-year old trees, and to prune vigorously when first planted, 

 remembering the more you prune the better your trees will grow. 



SOIL. 



Now as to soil. Apple, cherry, pear, and walnut trees need the best soil; 

 peach, plum, prune, and nectarine will grow in soil more sandy, also orange 

 and lemon trees. Small fruits do well in sandy soil, but be it remembered 

 that all trees do better on rich soil, but some do better on a lighter soil 

 than others. 



IRRIGATION. 



Now a word about irrigation. Orange trees require irrigating regularly, 

 say, while young and before they come into bearing, once every two months 

 in the dry season, and every four to six weeks after they come into bearing. 

 Lemons require but little water, about twice during the dry season. Decid- 

 uous trees do not require irrigating in ordinary seasons and under ordinary 

 circumstances. 



PLANTING. 



Before planting plow the land eight to twelve inches deep, or deeper if 

 you can afford it. Harrow and pulverize the land thoroughly. Dig the 

 holes about twenty inches deep; place the roots in and spread them out, 

 and when filling the hole put the top earth in at the bottom and vice versa, 

 and press the soil firmly until the tree will stand erect, and if you have 

 the water irrigate the trees so as to settle the soil around the roots. I will 

 say that in some localities where the atmosphere is dry, that trees require 

 more irrigating. Now, as to distance apart to plant fruit trees, twenty feet 

 apart will answer every kind of tree, except orange, apricot, and apple, 

 which should not be less than twenty-five feet. English walnut, forty feet; 

 almonds, twenty-five feet; blackberries, raspberries, currants, and goose- 

 berries should be six feet apart; strawberries, two to three feet. Grapes of 

 all kinds will produce more tons per acre, after six years old, if they are 

 planted ten feet apart, than if they are nearer. I wish to emphasize this 

 as a fact that can be and has been demonstrated. 



